The Spines

Wellington group who had a sort of angular approach to some of their music, ska like, but also had an appealing dark edge. They released the impressive fishing 7″ EP on Ripper records. This was followed by another couple of singles then a lack lustre album on Flying Nun. The bands main man was guitarist/singer John Mcleary who wrote all the songs (along with Ross Elliot, Wendy Margaret Calder, Neill John Duncan, Gregory Brice and Ross Burge).

In their early stages the band featured the brilliant drumming skills of Caroline Easther who was later replaced and the band became more technical and less moody in their songs and delivery. Live the band had an intensity about them, but there was something very wellington about them that surfaced every once in a while. that quirky ska thing perhaps.
-Rob Mayes